Boot tree

ABSTRACT

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A BOOT TREE CHARACTERIZED BY A PAIR OF HOLLOWED OUT ELONGATE GENERALLY SEMI-CYLINDRICAL HALF-SHELLS ARRANGED IN FACE-TO-FACE RELATION AND HINGEDLY INTERCONNECTED AT THE LOWER ENDS THEREOF WHILE THE MID-PORTIONS ARE BIASED APART BY A SPRING BOW. THE UPPER ENDS OF THE HALF-SHELLS ARE CLOSED BY CENTRALLYAPERTURED SEMI-CIRCULAR DISCS THAT PROVIDE FINGER-HOLDS FOR THE THUMB AND FOREFINGER TO AID IN SQUEEZING THE HALFSHELLS TOGETHER SO AS TO FACILITATE INSERTION AND REMOVAL THEREOF.

Oct. 5, 1971 N. P. GOLDBERG BOOT TREE Filed March 6, 1970 FIG.6.

FIG. 4.

INVENTOR NO RMAN P. GOLDBE RG AT NEYB FIG. 5.

United States Patent 3,609,784 BOOT TREE Norman P. Goldberg, 255 S. Hudson, Denver, Colo. 80222 Filed Mar. 6, 1970, Ser. No. 17,240 Int. Cl. A43d /00 US. Cl. 12114.6 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a boot tree characterized by a pair of hollowed out elongate generally semi-cylindrical half-shells arranged in face-to-face relation and hingedly interconnected at the lower ends thereof while the mid-portions are biased apart by a spring bow. The upper ends of the half-shells are closed by centrallyapertured semi-circular discs that provide finger-holds for the thumb and forefinger to aid in squeezing the halfshells together so as to facilitate insertion and removal thereof.

Boot trees are known in the prior art that consist of a pair of elongate semi-cylindrical members having a spring therebetween intermediate the ends thereof operative to normally bias same apart into extended relation. Such boot trees, however, have certain deficiencies that interfere with the normal use thereof and thus render them unsatisfactory. For example, by placing the spring intermediate the ends of the semi-cylindrical elements, the lower ends spread apart when the upper ends are squeezed together thus making insertion into the boot top difiicult. On the other hand, when one squeezes the lower ends together and attempts to hold them there while making the insertion into the boot top, he will find his hand is in the Way. In a wide-topped boot, this is no particular problem; however, many of the modern boots are very slim and designed to fit the calf quite snugly thus leaving little or no space along the sides to accommodate both the tree and the fingers as one attempts to hold the bottom together.

At the upper end an analogous problem exists in that one must grasp the exterior surfaces of the treeforming elements in order to squeeze them together and the fingers are thus, once again, in the way. Also, these elements are usually six inches or more apart at their upper ends which is quite a span to bridge with one hand.

It has now been found in accordance with the teaching of the instant invention that these and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art boot trees can be eliminated by providing a hinged connection at the lower extremities of the half-shells thus joining same together in a clamshell fashion while providing the upper ends with apertured semi-circular discs defining interior fingerholds. The leaf spring biasing the half shells apart cooperates in a unique fashion with the integral hook-and-eye type hinge to hold the latter in assembled relation.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved boot tree.

A second objective is the provision of a unit of the type aforementioned in which the half-shells thereof are hingedly interconnected to define a clam-shell design.

Another object of the invention herein disclosed and claimed is to provide a boot tree designed for both insertion and removal with one hand.

Still another objective is to provide a boot tree wherein the hingedly interconnected half-shell elements thereof can be squeezed together by grasping fingerholds on the interior thereof so that no part of the hand lies between the tree and boot.

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An additional object is to provide a novel cooperative arrangement between the spring and hook-and-eye hinge whereby the half-shell elements interconnected thereby are held in assembled relation.

Further objects of the invention forming the subject matter thereof are to provide a boot tree that is simple to use, inexpensive, lightweight yet rugged, versatile, decorative in appearance, and one that is ideally suited for use with the currently-fashionable narrow-topped boots for both men and women.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out specifically hereinafter in connection with the description of the drawings that follows, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the boot tree in open position, portions of the half-shell elements having been broken away and shown in diametrical section;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation showing the unit in closed position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the boot tree in open position;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view in closed position;

FIG. 5 is a transverse section to an enlarged scale taken along line 55 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a detail view showing the construction of the endless leaf spring.

Referring now to the drawings for a detailed description of the present invention, reference numeral 10 has been employed to broadly designate the boot tree in its entirety which will be seen to include a pair of substantially identical half-shell elements 12M and 12F hingedly interconnected at their lower ends by hinge number 14 while being normally biased into open position by a spring 16 fastened therebetween. The upper ends of each half-shell are provided with semi-circular webs 18 containing single large openings 20 that cooperate with one another to define fingerholds for the thumb and forefinger.

In the particular form illustrated, the half-shell elements 12M and 12F each comprise hollow elongate generally semi-cylindrical elements that preferably have a slight conical taper from top to bottom although they may, of course, be the same size all the way down. When the two half shells occupy a fully-closed position, their cross section is substantially circular at the top while being more or less elliptical at the bottom due to the hinge 14 holding the two semi-circular lower end portions 22 slightly apart. Obviously, other circular, elliptical and, perhaps, even ovate cross sections could be substituted for the one illustrated without the exercise of invention.

The lower end portions 22 are molded integral with the shell element 12 and a convex rounded edge 24 is formed at the juncture therebetween which facilitates insertion of the tree into the open top of the boot. The upper semi-circular webs 18, on the other hand, are shown recessed a short distance beneath the top edge of the shell although formed integral therewith as was the case with the lower end portions 22. The fingerreceiving openings 20 in these Webs comprise, in the particular form shown, U-shaped apertures extending all the way to the interior shell wall where they open onto slits 26 that receive the die insert (not shown) that is used to form both said slit and aperture. While, obviously, other shapes and arrangements of finger-receiving apertures 20 will work just as well, the fingerholds shown have the advantage of being easly to mold.

Hinge member 14 is of the hook-and-eye type having the hook leaf 28 thereof emerging from the lower end portion 22 of half-shell element 12M while the eye leaf 30 is a part of the other half shell element 12F. Both elements of the hinge aforementioned are preferably molded integral with their associated lower end portion 22 and they constitute the only difference between half shells 12M and 12F.

Hook leaf 28 is centrally-located and of substantial width. It has a downturned generally U-shaped configuration such that the free edge 32 thereof hooks underneath the hinge pin 34 bordering the eye 30 whenever the half shells 12M and 12F occupy their normal acute-angular assembled relation to one another. Likewise, the width of the eye 30 in relation to the depth of the slot in the hook is preferably selected such that said hinge cannot be unhooked and disassembled so long as the half shells remain fastened together by spring member 16 that holds same in acute-angular relationship to one another. Thus, the tree is assembled by placing the half shells in a right or obtuse angular relationship in order to hook the hook leaf over the hinge pin bordering the eye; whereupon, by simply rotating the half shells toward one another until they reach an acute angular relationship and then fastening them permanently together in this position by means of spring 16, the hinge can no longer be unhooked.

As noted above, spring 16 which interconnects the two half shells, holds them in acute-angular position and thus cooperates with the hinge 14 to maintain the assembled relation of the tree. In addition, however, spring 16 normally biases the half shells 12M and 12F apart at the top. As shown, spring 16 takes the form of a complete loop of spring steel, the opposite portions of which are permanently fastened to the half shells by rivets 36. While this is the preferred construction, it is obvious that either the top how 38 or the bottom bow 40 of the loop could be done away with and still preserve the desired biasing action. Integral bosses 42 have been shown molded inside the half shells with inwardly-facing fiat faces 44 to facilitate fastening the spring thereto and also to strengthen the connection.

What is claimed is:

1. The boot tree which comprises:

a pair of substantially identical hollow generally semicylindrical elements arranged in opposed face-to-face relation;

hinge means hingedly interconnecting the lower ends of the semi-cylindrical elements together for relative clam-shell movement therebetween;

spring means connected between the semi-cylindrical elements above the hinge means normally biasing them apart at the top while simultaneously limiting the spread therebetween to an acute angular relation; and

a web containing a finger-receiving aperture is provided inside each semi-cylindrical element adjacent the upper end thereof, said webs providing integral fingerholds to facilitate closing the tree for insertion into and removal from a boot top.

2. The boot tree as set forth in claim 1 in which: the spring means comprises a spring steel band having at least one U-shaped arch interconnecting the semi-cylindrical elements.

3. The boot tree as set forth in claim 1 in which: the webs are semi-circular and the apertures are generally U-shaped opening onto the exterior of the associated semicylindrical element through a slot bridging the open end of said U.

4. The boot tree which comprises:

a pair of substantially identical hollow generally semicylindrical elements arranged in opposed face-to-face relation;

hinge means hingedly interconnecting the lower ends of the semi-cylindrical elements together for relative clam-shell movement therebetween;

spring means connected between the semi-cylindrical elements above the hinge means normally biasing them apart at the top while simultaneously limiting the spread therebetween to an acute angular relation; and

the hinge means is of the hook-and-eye type.

5. The boot tree as set forth in claim 4 in which: the spring means and hook-and-eye hinge means cooperate with one another to maintain the semi-cylindrical elements in assembled acute-angular relation to one another.

6. The boot tree as set forth in claim 4 in which: the spring means comprises a spring steel bond having at least one U-shaped arch interconnecting the semi-cylindrical elements.

7. The boot tree which comprises:

a pair of substantially identical hollow generally semicylindrical elements arranged in opposed face-to-face relation;

hinge means hingedly interconnecting the lower ends of the semi-cylindrical elements together for relative clam-shell movement therebetween;

spring means connected between the semi-cylindrical elements above the hinge means normally biasing them apart at the top while simultaneously limiting the spread therebetween to an acute angular relation .wherein the spring comprises a steel band which defines an endless loop.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner 

